SriLanka to hype Ramayana

SriLanka is going to use the Ramayana to attract Indian tourists in a big way.

"The SriLanka Tourism Development Authority has formed a committee to work out a scheme to promote 34 sites associated with the Ramayana," the body's chief, Mr S. Kalaiselvam, said.

According to the Ramayana, Ravana brought Sita to SriLanka in a Pushpaka Vimanam which landed at Werangatota, about 10 km from Mahiyangana, east of the hill station of Nuwara Eliya, a hill station.

Sita was taken to Goorulupota, now Sitakotuwa, about 10 km from Mahiyangana on the road to Kandy. She was housed in a cave at Sita Eliya on a highway that links Colombo with Nuwara Eliya. North of Nuwara Eliya, in Matale district, is Yudhaganapitiya, where the Rama-Ravana battle took place. Dunuwila is the place from where Rama shot the Brahmastra that killed Ravana. Ravana was making battle plans in a place called Lakgala.

Ravana's body was placed on the rock at Yahangala for his subjects to pay their last respects.

To wash off the sin of killing a Brahmin that Ravana was, Rama prayed at Munneswaram in Chilaw, 80 km north of Colombo. At Manaweri, north of Chilaw, is a temple Rama is said to have gifted. There are also many sites associ ated with Hanuman.